Last.



No. 674,697. Patented May 2|, MI.

E. L. GODING.

LAST.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Shgajs SSSSS I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN L. GODING, OFSANFORD, MAINE.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674.697, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed November 26, 1897. Serial No. 659,767. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. GODIN G, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sanford, in the county of York and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in lasts, and more particularly to lasts which are rendered capable of being easily inserted in and withdrawn from the shoe by reason of the last being divided in such a way that the heel part may turn upwardly and forwardly to shorten the last both preparatory to inserting it in the shoe and withdrawing it therefrom.

I am aware that it is not new to divide lasts transversely, removing a portion from the top and hinging the two parts of the last together at a point at or near the bottom of the por tion thus removed, and my invention is designed, among other things, to obviate the necessity for the hinged connection between the two parts of the last, leaving the heel partfree to slide and turn on the projection formed by the removal of said part, and thus facilitating the insertion and removal of the last. To this end I divide the last transversely on a line extending downwardly and rearwardly to the bottom, forming a projection or support at the rear end of the fore part to serve as a bearing for the heel part to slide and turn on. A portion of the last above the projection is then removed to permit the heel part to turn upwardly and forwardly on the projection of the fore part into the open space formed by said removal.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making a part of this application, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved last. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same provided with a cord for uniting the two parts together. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of my improved last, showing arrangement of connecting-cord to prevent lateral movement of the parts relative to each other. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of Fig. 3, taken on line X X; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved last, having a locking device secured thereto.

The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

In said drawings, A represents the fore part of a last, and A the heel part. The line of division B extends forwardly of a perpendicular erected at the rearmost point of the fore part, and at a point above the bottom is an open space G, which permits an upward and forward movement of the heel part relative to the fore part. The rear part of the fore part therefore has a rearwardly-projecting portion 0 at the bottom. The forward face of the heel part may be undercut to form a forwardly-projecting overhang D, as seen in Fig. 1. The heel and fore part for convenience of withdrawing the fore part from the shoe may be connected together in any convenient manner-as, for example, by a cord H, as seen in Fi s. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 the cord is shown suTciently long to permit the heel part to be sufliciently removed from the shoe to admit the anvil of the heelingmachine. To prevent the heel part from lateral movement relative to the fore part, I pass the connecting-cord vertically through the projection and through a socket or groove in the vertical wall of the overhang. This construction I have shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which, the several parts of the last being named as before, I represents a vertical socket in the projection, and J its continuation in the vertical wall of the overhang. In this socket is inserted the connecting-cord H, which, while it does not interfere with the turning of the heel part on the fore part, prevents the heel part from moving laterally on the fore part.

When my improved last is to be used as a follower, a locking device is not necessary; but when it is to be used in lasting or heeling a lock is necessary.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my improved last provided with a locking device. The form here shown consists in a locking-bar K, pivotally mounted in a slot or socket T in the projection and adapted to swing into a vertical socket U in the overhang, said bar being threaded at the top and being provided with a nut M, adjustable on said bar to make a close contact, adapted to hold the bar in position and prevent the separation of the parts under pressure, and a connecting-chain L, se-

curing the nut and bolt to the heel part, but any convenient locking device may be used.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the cord H is drawn taut when the heel isin its normal relation to the fore part and by reason of the adjacent faces of the two parts contacting below the cord prevents any movement of the heel part downwardly below its normal relation to the fore part.

In operation the fore part is'insertedin the shoe first. The heel part in a partially-perpendicular position is theninserted, the front end of the heel striking first upon the projection of the fore part. The heel is then forced down into the shoe to a horizontal position, the heel portion sliding and turning on the projection until the lower vertical front face of the heel part comes in contact with the rear vertical face of the projection on the fore part. In withdrawing the last from the shoe the rear end of the heel'part is first raised, the front end of the heel part turning and sliding on the projection of the fore part and as the rear end is tilted until the heel part is loosened,when it can be easily removed.

The advantages of my improved divided last are that it obviates the necessity for hinges and it is easily inserted in and removed from the shoe, the heel part not only tilting, but also sliding at the same time. It is cheaply manufactured and durable in use, it having no hinged connections to break or get out of order.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim- 1.. In a divided last, a fore part provided with a rearward projection having an abutting end, a heel part provided with a forward overhang and an abutting end below said overhang, and an open space above said projection, the two parts adapted to overlap and support one the other when in their normal relation, said overhang being free to pivot and slide on said projection during insertion in and removal from the shoe.

2. In a divided last, a fore part provided with a rearward projection near the bottom and an abutting end, a heel part provided with a forward overhang located above the bottom and an abutting end below said overhang, and an open space above said projection and in front of said overhang when the two parts are in their normal relation, said overhang being adapted to overlap said projection and to pivot and slide thereon, whereby the abutting ends combined and cooperating with the overlapping parts tend to prevent the collapsing of the parts when in use.

3. In a last, a fore part having a rearward projection near the bottom, a heel part having its forward end resting loosely'on said projection, an open space above said projection whereby the heel is free to pivot and slide on said projection, a socket in said projection a recess in the front wall of the heel part and a cord inserted in said socket and recess connecting the two parts together.

4:. In a last, a fore part having a rearward projection, a heel part having a forwardlyextending overhang resting loosely on said projection, an open space above said projection, whereby said heel part is free to slide and pivot on said projection, and means for locking the two parts together when in their normal relation.

5. A last divided transversely by lines of cut forming an open space at the top, abutting ends below said open space and shoulders horizontally overlapping each other above said abutting ends, the shoulder on the heel part being free to pivot and slide on the shoulder on the fore part during insertion in and removal from theshoe.

6. A last divided transversely by lines of cut forming an open space at the top, one part being free to pivot and slide on the other during insertion in and removal from the shoe and means for locking the two parts together when in their normal relation.

7. A last divided transversely by lines of cutforming longitudinallyoverlappingshoul ders and a gap extending from the shoulder on the fore part upwardly, one part being free to pivot and slide relative to the other, a locking-bar pivotally mounted in the fore part and adapted to engage the shoulder on the heel part and means for adjusting the contact-point of said locking-bar with said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of November, A. D. 1897.

EDWIN L. GODING.

Witnesses:

ELGIN O. VERRILL, MARION RICHARDS. 

